The first dog show in our part of town this season was a runaway hit. Nearly 300 dogs participated and many more dog-lovers dropped by to watch and play with them.
This was North Calcutta Kennel Club’s 45th and 46th All India Championship held at West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences in Belgachhia.
Beauty and naughty
There were toughies like Paws Raja a.k.a. Mastaan who had come from Khardah. Mastaan was a chocolate brown Lab and the goon of — if not all of Khardah then at least — his house. “Previously my daughter Suvadiya was the naughtiest at home but it is now Mastaan hands down,” said Goutam Bal.
There was the ice princess Kayra, a Siberian Husky with one brown and one blue eye and Chutki, the size-zero figured Whippet, who raised curiosity.
“Most people don’t find Whippets conventionally good-looking. That is why they aren’t bred as much as German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) and Rottweilers. But I’m keeping whippets since 1984. Anyone who has adopted a Whippet once can never switch to another dog,” said Debasish Bhattacharya of Hatibagan.
Reel-life heroes
The Akita Lucky had as much of a fan-following as his owner — Tollywood actor Dev. “Dev sir left for shooting early in the morning but Lucky has come with me,” said handler Bobby Mishra. “Since Akita is a rare breed there’s much curiosity about him too.”
Many visitors recognised Akitas as Hachiko, the Japanese dog famous for his loyalty to his master. “It was after I saw the film Hachiko that I decided to get an Akita. My mother was initially reluctant but I made her watch the film. She broke down in tears and said yes,” said Jayashree Chakraborty, a resident of AE Block.
Her dog, Furya, is now a selfie-specialist. She’ll pose for as many selfies as you want and even oblige by donning hats, goggles and hairbands.
Working dogs
Ruchira Kumar runs a creche at Ballygunge where her Saluki Honey is the receptionist! “Honey greets customers and their dogs,” she said as the dog happily licked ice cream off a spoon Ruchira was offering. “She’s protective of the puppies in the creche and draws them close to her stomach to keep them safe.”
But there was also Appy, the Shih Tzu, who her guardians said did absolutely no work around the house. “She sleeps 20 hours a day! Even here she’s lying down and waiting to doze off,” said Aditi Ambre, as her other Shih Tzu Frooti pranced about. Both the dogs wore hairclips hand-made by Aditi’s daughter Aakanksha.
A Labrador named Tiger was beyond sleepy. He had hugged his caretaker Rahul Sarkar and was sleeping like a baby. “This is how he always sleeps,” smiled Rahul. “He uses me like a bolster.”
The GSD Remo was just waking up after his nap and owner Prabhat Agarwal knew exactly what would get him charged up — a game of football. The handler held his leash, his family members formed a big circle around him and they all kicked the ball about while Remo leapt and tried to reach it.
All hail the girl child
Kamal Ghosh, a handler, said that while the show season lasted two months, the dogs’ training continues 365 days a year. “They walk, trot, stack and practise commands like sit, stay, come and charge,” said the man who had escorted a mother-daughter duo of GSDs — Sandy and Stormi.
Theirs is an exemplary Beti Bachao family, what with the grand-mother and great-grandmother also being beloved members of the household. “The senior bitches have now retired,” said owner Aditi Samanata. “I myself have a daughter Oishi and we are partial to girls. We give the male puppies of the litter away and keep the females.”
Vice-president of the club Amit Bose said that the most popular breeds at the show were Labradors, GSDs, Pugs and Beagles. The best in show title was won by Pinaki Banerjee’s Doberman in both rings.
